In a previous article I wrote of how it eventually came to light that the employment of two police chiefs simultaneously was due to a mistake by Home Affairs.
The Minister has not been forthcoming about this: I had to investigate to bring the matter into the public domain. By going over the police chief’s head and extending the contract of an employee Home Affairs effectively constructively dismissed a very good police chief. This is not the first time that this department’s inability to manage itself professionally has cost the taxpayer dear. Trawling through freedom of information requests I note that a former police chief received over a quarter of a million pounds while suspended. (What was the total remuneration of the former Chief of the States of Jersey Police Graham Power from the date he was suspended until his official retirement? The total cost to the taxpayer during this time, including pension and social security, was £255,546.83).
On Tuesday 29 May 2018 I was advised that the fire chief had resigned. If this had been a planned retirement, as later reported, there would have been a prompt press release already prepared. When nothing was published I contacted the JEP to request that they seek confirmation. It was not until 1 June 2018 that the story was published. There appears to be no succession planning in place, and the current incumbent leaves promptly at the end of the month (limited handover). The official line is that he has ‘retired’. If this was the case, why the rush and the unexpected nature of the event?
Home Affairs has been a problematic department since the advent of ministerial government. Except for Andrew Lewis’s brief tenure, the minister has been either a lawyer or the spouse of a lawyer. The only ministerial position I can think of whereby Senator Moore could perhaps be perceived of being conflicted is Home Affairs. She is married to a practising lawyer, as openly disclosed during her election campaign, and the interaction between a lawyer and elements of the Homes Affairs portfolio can be immense. To be clear, I’m not making any accusations, as there are none to make. These are just observations based on my experience of public perception. I am also acutely aware that not everyone shares this view regarding her perceived conflict of interest. Personally, I believe that a new broom is required for this department and Kristina’s talents can be better utilised elsewhere.
